323 F.

2d 900
63-2 USTC P 9797

McSORLEY'S, INC., Appellant,

v.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
No. 7289.

United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.

Oct. 31, 1963.

William P. Johnson, Denver, Colo. (Rothgerber, Appel & Powers, Denver,

Colo., on the brief), for appellant.
Alec A. Pandaleon, Atty., Dept. of Justice (John B. Jones, Jr., Acting
Asst. Atty. Gen., Meyer Rothwacks, Harry Baum and Richard J. Heiman,
Attys., Dept. of Justice, and Lawrence M. Henry, U.S. Atty., of counsel,
on the brief), for appellee.
Before MURRAH, Chief Judge, and PHILLIPS and BREITENSTEIN,
Circuit judges.
BREITENSTEIN, Circuit Judge.

This is a typical 'thin corporation' case. The question is whether payments by a

corporation to holders of its debenture notes are interest and for federal income
tax purposes deductible under 163(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26
U.S.C. 163(a). The District Director of Internal Revenue ruled that the
payments were dividends rather than interest and assessed a deficiency which
the corporation paid and sued to recover. The trial court sustained the Director
and dismissed the action.

Plaintiff-appellant McSorley's, Inc., herein referred to as taxpayer, is a

Colorado corporation organized by seven individuals to build and rent
apartments. The organizers contributed $16,750.80 for common stock.
Construction costs of about $200,000 were met by advances from an individual
stockholder, by a bank constuction loan guaranteed by two stockholders and by

a loan from a non-stockholder. Negotiations for permanent financing disclosed

that the taxpayer could not obtain as large a first mortgage loan as had been
expected and that a second mortgage loan would carry 12% Interest. The result
was that to pay off the construction loans the taxpayer made a $75,000 first
mortgage and issued debenture notes to the stockholders in the ratio of $4.00 of
notes to $1.00 of common stock.1 No debenture notes were offered or issued to,
or held by, non-stockholders.
3

The debenture notes were unambiguous obligations to pay the face amount at
maturity with interest payable semi-annually.2 The debenture notes were
carried as debts on the records of the taxpayer. The uncontroverted testimony
was that the contributions to common stock represented the amounts of risk
capital that the organizers were willing to contribute to the venture and the
debenture notes represented loans to the taxpayer.

The debenture notes were made subordinate to all other indebtedness of the
taxpayer, whether such indebtedness was secured or unsecured and whether it
was existing when the notes were issued or arose thereafter. The resolution
authorizing the issuance of the debenture notes provided that no interest or
principal on the notes was to be paid if the taxpayer was in default in the
payment of either principal or interest on any other corporate indebtedness.
Upon liquidation the noteholders would be paid only after all other creditors
had been paid.

The question of whether payments by a corporation to its stockholders are

deductible interest within the meaning of 163(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 19543 presents a question of fact, the answer to which depends on whether
the true relationship between the parties is that of debtor-creditor or
corporation-stockholder. The trial court found that the equity capital
contributed for shares of stock was inadequate for the reasonable needs of the
corporation; that the debts of the corporation rose to more than eleven times the
amount of capital stock; that the amounts paid for the notes went to start the
business as they were used for construction expenditures and to apy off other
indebtedness; that the corporate income was insufficient to pay the debenture
notes at maturity; that no provision was made for the creation of a fund from
which the debenture notes could be paid at maturity; and that the 'owners of the
corporation, both in their capacities as stockholders and note holders bore the
risk of the business venture, since their return, in effect and substance,
depended on its success.' On the basis of such findings the court concluded that
the debenture notes represented equity capital and that the deductions on
account of interest paid on the notes were not proper.

The taxpayer has the burden of demonstrating that the deductions on account of
interest come within the purview of 163(a). 4 The substance rather than the form
of the transaction is controlling.5 Each case turns on its own facts.6

An analysis of the numerous 'thin corporation' cases discloses a recognition of

many indicia of both debt and equity capital, none of which are controlling in
every situation. The taxpayer emphasizes the intent of the corporation in the
issuance of the debenture notes and the intent of taxpayers in purchasing those
notes;7 and the fact that the notes were conventional unambiguous debt
instruments8 providing for certainty of payment of a fixed sum on a fixed date.9

Recognizing that intent of the corporation and of those who contribute financial
support to it are important and that the ratio of debt to equity capital is not
decisive, the subjective expressions of intent must be weighed against the facts
which support contrary inferences.10 Among such facts are the identity of
interests between stockholders and noteholders11 and the proportionate holding
of stock and notes;12 the fact that the proceeds from the notes were used to
supply capital assets in that they were used to complete construction and pay
off other indebtedness;13 the subordination of the notes to all other
indebtedness of the taxpayer;14 and the assumption of the risks of the venture
by the noteholders.15

Our decision in Bowersock Mills & Power Co. v. Commissioner, 10 Cir., 172
F.2d 904, is not controlling here. There, emphasis was laid on the fact that prior
to the pertinent transactions the parties stood on the basis of debtor and creditor
with no disposition on the part of the creditor to become an investor in the
corporaton.16 Bowersock itself recognizes that 'every case turns on its own
facts.'17

10

A review of the entire record discloses that substantial evidence sustains the
findings of the trial court and that the inferences which that court drew from the
evidence are reasonable. Neither a choice between two permissible views of the
weight of the evidence18 nor a choice between conflicting reasonable inferences
from the evidence19 is clearly erroneous. The taxpayer has failed to sustain the
burden of proving that the payments in question are deductible as interest under
163(a).

11

Affirmed.

Originally the debenture notes were issued in the amount of $67,003.20. Later,

Originally the debenture notes were issued in the amount of $67,003.20. Later,
additional contributions of $2,615.20 were made to common stock and
$10,460.80 to debenture notes. The 4 to 1 ratio was changed insignificantly
when two stockholders disposed of their interests and an eighth individual
joined the corporation

The original debenture notes matured in 1966 and bore 4% Interest. In 1960
new notes were exchanged for the original notes. The new notes matured in
1970 and carried 6% Interest. Through oversight, interest was paid annually for
the first two years rather than semi-annually

26 U.S.C. 163(a)

Charter Wire, Inc., v. United States, 7 Cir., 309 F.2d 878, 880, certiorari denied
372 U.S. 965, 83 S.Ct. 1090, 10 L.Ed.2d 129

Brake & Electric Sales Corporation v. United States, 1 Cir., 287 F.2d 426, 427;
P.M. Finance Corporation v. Commissioner, 3 Cir., 302 F.2d 786, 789

Bowersock Mills & Power Co. v. Commissioner, 10 Cir., 172 F.2d 904, 907

See Bowersock Mills & Power Co. v. Commissioner, supra, 172 F.2d p. 907

See Kraft Foods Company v. Commissioner, 2 Cir., 232 F.2d 118, 126-127

See Bowersock Mills & Power Co. v. Commissioner, 10 Cir., 172 F.2d 904,
907

10

Rowan v. United States, 5 Cir., 219 F.2d 51, 55

11

Wachovia Bank and Trust Company v. United States, 4 Cir., 288 F.2d 750, 756

12

Charter Wire, Inc., v. United States, 7 Cir., 309 F.2d 878, 880, certiorari denied
372 U.S. 965, 83 S.Ct. 1090, 10 L.Ed.2d 129

13

See Rowan v. United States, 5 Cir., 219 F.2d 51, 55

14

P.M. Finance Corporation v. Commissioner, 3 Cir., 302 F.2d 786, 789-790

15

Commissioner v. Meridian & Thirteenth Realty Co., 7 Cir., 132 F.2d 182, 186

16

See discussion of Bowersock decision in Crawford Drug Stores v. United

States, 10 Cir., 220 F.2d 292, 296-297

17

172 F.2d 907

18

United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 338 U.S. 338, 342, 70 S.Ct. 177, 179, 180, 94
L.Ed. 150

19

Continental Petroleum Co. v. United States, 10 Cir., 87 F.2d 91, 95, certiorari
denied 300 U.S. 679, 57 S.Ct. 670, 81 L.Ed. 883; Walling v. Rutherford Food
Corporation, 10 Cir., 156 F.2d 513, 517, affirmed and modified 331 U.S. 722,
67 S.Ct. 1473, 91 L.Ed. 1772